Hospitality Innovation, Distribution, Marketing

29 May, Wednesday

09:00 - 11:30Registration & Networking

11:30 - 11:45Opening remarks
11:45 - 12:30What if...? What does the future of hospitality look like from Lausanne (Keynote presentation)
SPEAKER:





Dr. Ray F. Iunius
Member of the Executive Committee
Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne
12:30 - 12:50Networking Break
12:50 - 13:30The hotel of the future is already here: Which technologies and solutions are changing the business and how to make the most of them? (Panel discussion)
SPEAKERS:




Ivaylo Lefterov
Development Director
Svart Hotel (Svartisen, Norway)






Stanislav Ivanov
Professor in Tourism Economics and Vice-Rector (Research)
Varna University of Management
13:30 - 14:20Open Air Lunch Break powered by Volkswagen: Get a sandwich, get a notion of the Caravelle & Caddy Maxi!
Location: At the parking right next to the A4 entrance of NDK
14:20 - 15:05What are the key revenue management practices that hoteliers have to apply in 2019...and beyond? (Keynote presentation)
SPEAKER:





Horatiu Tudori
Professor of Revenue Management
Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne
15:05 - 15:25Networking Break
15:25 - 16:05Revenue management: is it possible to predict the demand in a complex environment? (Panel discussion)
SPEAKERS:





Horatiu Tudori
Professor of Revenue Management
Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne






Joris Beerten
Global Commercial Director
OTA Insight







MODERATOR:
Zina Moskova
Cluster Revenue Manager
Grand Hotel Sofia, Suite Hotel Sofia and Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia (Оpening in Q4 2019)
16:05 - 16:25Networking Break
16:25 - 17:10How to reach out to Chinese travelers and engage them: Tips from the Pro (Keynote presentation)
SPEAKER:





Cho Wong
Co-owner and Managing Director
Compass Edge Europe
17:10 - 17:30Networking Break
17:30 - 18:10Innovations in hotel marketing: how to get ahead of the competition — fast? (Panel discussion)
SPEAKERS:




John Seaton
Managing Director EMEA & AsPac
Cendyn






Sergey Kan
Professional photographer, 360 image and VR expert, Founder
Be There







Martin Popov
CEO
Interactive Share







Max Starkov
Founder & Director
HeBS Digital
18:10 - 18:40Networking Break
18:40 - 21:40Spring Jazz & Wine (HTIF 2019 Opening Cocktail Party)

Hotel Investment, Development, Design

30 May, Thursday

09:00 - 10:00Speed-networking (speed business meetings)
10:00 - 10:05Opening remarks
10:05 - 10:30Travel trends 2019-2020: Does Sofia have a chance to appear as a promising destination? (Keynote presentation)

SPEAKER:





Zied Gueblaoui
General Manager Sales for Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia & Kosovo
Lufthansa Group
10:30 - 10:50Networking Break
10:50 - 11:25Hotel brands in the age of OTAs: Why brand still matters? (Panel discussion)
SPEAKERS:





David Jenkins
Vice President,
Development,
Russia,
CIS, Baltics,
and Israel
Radisson Hotel
Group







Dieter Kornek
Head of Project Scouting
TUI Hotels and Resorts







Adam Konieczny
Development Director Europe
Louvre Hotels Group





Dr. Maya Ivanova
Associate Professor in Tourism and Hospitality
Varna University of Management
11:25 - 11:40Networking Break
11:40 - 12:05Best Hotels’ Secrets: Certificate reception and discussions on the best practices in hotel management
12:05 - 12:20Networking Break
12:20 - 13:00Design and architecture: What are the key trends, challenges, and opportunities? (Panel discussion)
SPEAKERS:





Maya Yovcheva
Managing Director
ProArch








Alexander Kovatchev
CEO
IDEA International





Stefan Dyankov
Manager Project Business
Ideal Standard Bulgaria








Georgi Dzhokov
International Project Business Manager
TED Bed







MODERATOR:
Teodora Nikolova
Editor-In-Chief
BravaCasa
13:00 - 13:50Lunch Break
13:50 - 14:30Talent management: what do hoteliers need to offer in order to compete with other industries for qualified staff? (Panel discussion)
Host: Bulgarian Association of Hotel Executives
SPEAKERS:





Julieta Serafimova
Cluster General Manager and Board member
Grand Hotel Sofia,Suite Hotel Sofia and Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia (opening soon)





Prof. DSc Sonia Mileva
Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, FEBA





Dr. Ray F. Iunius
Member of the Executive Committee
Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne







Kaloyan Spasov
General Manager
Hotel Yastrebets Wellness and Spa







MODERATOR:
Valentin Atanasov
Journalist, Head of Projects
Association “Raphael”
14:30 - 14:50Networking Break
14:50 - 15:15Best Hotels’ Secrets: Certificate reception and discussions on the best practices in hotel management
15:15 - 15:30Summer season 2020: How to survive the perfect storm? (ProTalks)
SPEAKER:





Margita Todorova
Director Operations, Sales & Marketing
Albena JSC.
15:30 - 15:45The regional cuisine and the destination marketing: How to attract the connoisseurs? (ProTalks)
SPEAKER:





Zhelyazko Karakashev
Brand Chef
Black Sea Food Project
15:45 - 16:00Presentaton on hotel performance (ProTalks)
SPEAKER:





Jakub Klimczak
Business Development Manager
STR
16:00 - 16:20Networking Break
16:20 - 17:00Game of Profits: Is hotel investment in Southeast Europe and Bulgaria worth it? (Panel discussion)
SPEAKERS:





Richard Jones
Director CEE
PwC Real Estate







Silvija Lovreta
Director SEE International Hotel Development
Marriott International







Peter Penev
Managing Partner
PVP Hospitality







Plamen Bachev, MRICS
Partner | Head of Consultancy & Valuations
Forton/C&W







Zhivko Ivanov
Asset Management Director
Galaxy Investment Group

17:00 - 17:20Networking Break
17:20 - 18:00Destination marketing: How to do it right?
Host: Bulgarian Convention Bureau
18:00 - 18:05Closing remarks